My Weblog

This past summer, biweekly during the european cup, Berliners took to the streets to show their support for the German soccer team. As the team advanced, the crazier the celebrations would become. By the time the team reached the final round, the people starting heading downtown to watch the games by 12 o’clock (for a 7 pm game). Before the game started people threw firecrackers and bottles. The streets looked like mayhem. I remember thinking, this would never happen in the United States, the police would be on you before you could say a word.

I changed my mind after Obama’s win last Tuesday. The police were kind of calm about it. I saw one person arrested for standing on a lamp in Union Square. New York went nuts. People wanted a reason to do something out of the ordinary because something out of the ordinary had happened– someone other than a Bush was elected to the White House. I would not want to imagine what would have happened if Obama lost.

These are the photos I took along the way. (via my phone, poor quality)

union square, after Obama’s speech

Union Square, an hour or so after Obama’s speech

St Mark’s and Ave. A, two hours after Obama’s speech

St. Mark’s and Ave A, Car with its windshield broken

Somewhere along St Mark’s, Brownstones began to look like frat houses